BARTON STONE HAYS (1826-1914) was born in Ohio, and he came to be associated with the Midwest throughout his life, becoming a leading portrait painter in Indianapolis, and finally, coming to be known for his still life works, based out of Minneapolis, after 1882. Early in his life he was a Daguerreotypist, diorama painter and portrait painter, and there are some rare and sought-after genre paintings, some even of African-American subject matter...

Oil on canvas painting of a fetching young red-headed girl with a doll, 24" by 18" (34" by 27 1/2" in old attractive frame), signed at lower left "P. Harwood", not dated but circa early 20th century. This is a really beautifully executed work, reminding of some of the vigorous portraits by masters like Robert Henri; but, efforts to identify the artist have not borne fruit...

Impressionist painting signed at lower right with conjoined initials "MP", unframed, 24" by 18", the subject three female black dancers, two wearing festive hats. There is considerable energy in the scene and the stylized figures are by a trained hand. The painting likely dates to the 1960's or possibly 1950's. There are some light abrasions at lower left, a flaked area near the extreme lower edge there and another small edge loss at top, and light overall soiling.

Oil on canvas landscape of a forested, peaked mountain rising into scudding clouds, unframed, signed at lower right and dated 1876 by the noted well listed American artist from Massachusetts, D. JEROME ELWELL (1847-1912). This work measures 14" by 24 1/2". Elwell was intent upon his art at an early age, when he was spotted on the Gloucester waterfront sketching the marine scene, by one Samuel E. Sawyer, a wealthy Gloucester ship owner and patron of famed artist Fitz Hugh Lane...

Oil on canvas laid on masonite still life painting of pink grapes and a vase, 25" by 30" (31 1/2" by 36 1/2" as framed), signed at lower right by artist G. ANSON WHITE. Strangely, I can find only minimal references to an artist by this name, despite the amazingly skillful and sensitive rendering of the clusters of grapes. In such cases I am often left to wonder if perhaps the artist was actually someone well known who chose to sign the work with a pen name for one reason or another...

Oil on canvas landscape of a red-painted fishing shack or summer cottage on an idyllic lake, other cottages in the distance, 15" by 18 1/2" (20" by 22 1/2" as framed), signed at lower right "K. Andor". I thought this scene perhaps Swedish, but the name Andor is Hungarian...

Oil on canvas painting of a tabletop with flowers in vase and assorted decorative objects, 20" by 24" (26" by 20 1/2" framed), signed at lower left by artist HAZEL PETRA FETTERLEY BOEHME (1900-1941). On the reverse of the canvas the artist has written the title "Mid-Victorian", the date (May 1932), her name, Los Angeles, Cal., and original price of $75 or possibly $175 (appears she went over the numbers----maybe in difficult Depression times she had second thoughts on pricing)...

Oil on thin board painting of a canal with figures, boats and adjacent sun-drenched buildings, possibly Venice, unsigned, measuring 6 7/8" by 11 1/2" (13 1/2" by 18" in attractive old frame). Whether Venice, Italy, or another Mediterranean locale, this is nicely executed by a trained hand. It could well be by a listed artist but without a signature it will be difficult to place the hand. The work is slipping around loose under the gold mat and it needs to be framed with acid-free materials...

This is a really beautifully painted oil on a coarse, almost burlap canvas, the subject a sun-dappled yard of a house or other Spanish-California type structure populating old and established affluent communities such as Pasadena or Santa Barbara, tables and chairs in this little paradise awaiting the next social occasion. The work measures 16" by 20", UNFRAMED (the first image, with gold frame, is for display purposes only...again, the item will be sold UNFRAMED)...

This is an extremely well painted **CONTEMPORARY** oil on canvas, 12" by 16" (18" by 22" nicely framed), executed in the style of notable late 19th century painters such as Jean Beraud (1849-1936) or James Tissot (1836-1902), the principal subject an elegantly dressed young mother with her equally elegantly attired daughter, the remainder of the scene filled with horse drawn carriages, and ladies and gentlemen going about their business in a leafy boulevard, perhaps in a grand park in Paris...

Oil on canvas painting of a coastal village in England, 14" by 24" (20 1/2" by 30 1/2" as nicely framed in mid 20th century gold frame), signed at lower left "W. Thornbury". This work is by a prolific (over 1,000 works in the auction record), talented, well listed, English artist who was active in the second half of the nineteenth century, WILLIAM THORNLEY (approximate birth date 1830, death date circa 1898 though I have seen online that he was active through 1903)...

Old early 20th century painting of a thin line of trees bordering a waterway, executed in a lovely impressionist palette with excellent handling of light, 17 1/2" by 21" as framed, signed in red at lower right corner "Chatterton". Though found in Ogunquit, Maine, in an art colony area where the well known American artist Clarence Chatterton was known to have painted, the signature does not resemble that of Chatterton, who was a student of Edward Hopper...

Oil on canvas, 19 1/2" by 25 1/2" (25 1/2" by 31 1/2" as framed)---(possibly an inner frame, the outer one long since separated), apparently unsigned, circa early 20th century, the subject the famous and unique twin Thatcher Island lighthouses (also known as Cape Ann Light Station), about one mile off the coast of Rockport, Massachusetts. The lighthouses were erected in 1861 as a pair, thereby aiding navigation by mariners. Each is 124 feet in height...

Oil on canvas laid against board painting of historic ancient structures apparently on a coastline, 11 1/2" by 9" (19" by 16" framed), signed at lower left in Hebrew script...

Oil on canvasboard painting of a green coast, a stand of foreground trees in late autumn colors giving fine depth to the scene. The artist did not sign the work, which likely dates to the 1950's judging from frame and board. There is a small area of flaked paint in the trunk of the most prominent tree. Overall a nicely done work that would be improved with a gold frame. Measurements are 20" by 24" and 26" by 30" framed.

Early twentieth century impressionist painting of one of New Orleans' famous courtyard subjects, 9 1/4" by 7" as framed, signed at lower right corner "Don Juan". While an interesting name to be sure, I have not been able to find a listed artist corresponding to it. The work though is by an obviously trained and talented hand. The vintage frame makes all in all for a very satisfying little painting sure to please the New Orleans fan. The surface is soiled evenly, consistent with age. Likely...

Found recently in Maine, this is an antique oil on board painting, 12" by 14 3/4" as framed, unsigned, the subject purple grapes and a ripe peach, the autumnal grape leaf suggesting the season of harvest, all on a marble ledge or table, with a distant view beyond. The gray academy board, style and framing suggest a date of execution of about 1880. The painting is very American in feeling, bordering on folk art as there's a naivete. The frame has wear and an obvious loss at lower left corner. ...

Old, antique oil on fine weave canvas laid on board painting of trees, distant small structures and a wooden footbridge in the foreground crossing a stream, 17 3/4" by 23 3/4" (23" by 29" as framed), apparently unsigned, and likely executed at the end of the 19th century. The rather naïve painting is very mellow and easy to live with; a classic antique American old landscape. The surface is evenly soiled, consistent with age, giving the painting that old patina. I believe that some areas at cen...